Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Advancing Environmental Solutions How ITRC Reduces Regulatory Barriers to Innovative Environmental Technologies.

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Advancing Environmental Solutions How ITRC Reduces Regulatory Barriers to Innovative Environmental Technologies."— Presentation transcript:

1 Advancing Environmental Solutions How ITRC Reduces Regulatory Barriers to Innovative Environmental Technologies

2 What is ITRC? ITRC is a state-led coalition working to advance the use of innovative environmental technologies and approaches. Better Environmental Protection Environmental Regulations New Technology ITRC translates good science into better decision making

3 ITRC Values Technical Excellence Technical Excellence Collaboration Innovation Partnership Integrity Change Consensus

4 ITRC Purpose & Mission  ITRC Purpose To advance innovative environmental decision making  ITRC Mission Develop information resources and help break down barriers to the acceptance and use of technically sound innovative solutions to environmental challenges through an active network of diverse professionals

5 ITRC Key Strategies  ITRC looks ahead to future environmental challenges and is ready to focus our resources on developing innovative solutions to address those challenges.  ITRC develops quality products that meet the needs of our customers.  ITRC conducts outreach to demonstrate our value and increase our visibility to funding sponsors.  ITRC emphasizes collaboration and cooperation in our work as a way to foster consensus.

6 ITRC’s Role Innovative Technologies and Approaches Barriers to use: Lack of knowledge/trust Differing procedures Pre-specified approaches Institutional resistance Barriers to use: Lack of knowledge/trust Differing procedures Pre-specified approaches Institutional resistance Faster acceptance of innovative technologies Better decision making Reduced permitting/review time Decreased compliance costs Harmonized state approaches Faster acceptance of innovative technologies Better decision making Reduced permitting/review time Decreased compliance costs Harmonized state approaches

7 ITRC Role in the Environmental Community Reduce barriers To the use of innovative environmental technologies Improve cleanup By educating on innovative environmental technologies Provide a national consensus On approaches to implementing innovative environmental technologies

8 What ITRC Does Conduct Training Implement Solutions Develop Documents and Training Select Projects Form Teams ITRC uses a proven, cost- effective approach to develop guidance documents and training courses Since 1995: 106 documents 68 training courses

9 Power of ITRC’s Unique Network

10 Typical Project Schedule Reviewed by all membership sectors

11 ITRC Topics – Past and Present  New contaminated site assessment technologies  New cleanup processes and approaches  Emerging contaminants (e.g. perchlorate)  Munitions and explosives of concern (e.g. UXO)  Vapor intrusion  Green and sustainable remediation  Contaminated sediments  Remedial process optimization  Risk assessment  Mining waste

12 2012 ITRC Teams  Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) – CLOSING 2012  Environmental Molecular Diagnostics (EMD) – CLOSING 2013  Biochemical Reactors for Mine Influenced Water  Contaminated Sediments – Remediation  Groundwater Statistics and Monitoring Compliance  DNAPL Site Characterization – NEW  Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response – NEW  Petroleum Vapor Intrusion – NEW  Risk Assessment – NEW

13 2013 ITRC Teams  Environmental Molecular Diagnostics (EMD) –CLOSING 2013  Biochemical Reactors for Mine Influenced Water  Contaminated Sediments – Remediation  Groundwater Statistics and Monitoring Compliance  DNAPL Site Characterization – NEW  Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response – NEW  Petroleum Vapor Intrusion – NEW  Risk Assessment – NEW

14 What Does ITRC Achieve? Accomplishments Educates state regulators on the use of innovative technologies Encourages a common language for complex topics Replaces adversarial relationships with collaboration Achieves national paradigm shifts for using new technology Benefits Harmonized state approaches to cleanup across the nation Consistent approach to using innovative technology Faster cleanup decisions Reduced permitting time Decreased compliance and cleanup costs Leveraging of partnerships Increased efficiencies

15 ITRC Has Impact  National network with members from 50 states  Published 109 documents  Developed 71 training classes  Trained 90,000 people  ITRC’s website gets 8,000 to 10,000 unique visitors per month  Estimated 500-1,000 documents viewed or downloaded per month  Hundreds of success stories  Documented cost savings in the hundreds of millions of $

16 ITRC Reduces Barriers By  Providing guidance and training developed for state regulators by state regulators  Increasing understanding and confidence in innovative technologies  Fostering integration of new technical developments within existing regulations  Showing the cost and time savings that can be achieved with innovative environmental technologies  Creating networks of technical experts for use by states when making decisions on innovative environmental technologies

17 Specific Benefits  National paradigm shifts for using new technology  Harmonized approaches to using innovative technology across the nation  Increased regulatory consistency for similar cleanup problems in different states  Reduced review/permitting times for innovative approaches to environmental problems  Faster cleanup decisions due to reduction in uncertainty  Decreased compliance costs

18 2012 ITRC Membership Distribution

19 2011 Geographic Distribution of State Membership 10 + members 5-9 members 3-4 members 1-2 members 0 members 75% of states have 2 or more members

20 2012 Industry Affiliates Program (IAP)  77 IAP members, revenue is $556,000

21 2011 Products 9 documents, 8 training courses Project/Team Overview Document Tech Reg Document Internet Based Training LNAPL Classroom Training Course NA ● (classroom) Remediation Risk Management NA●● Contaminated Sediments - Bioavailability NA●● Permeable Reactive BarriersNA●● Solidification/StabilizationNA●●

22 2011 Products 9 documents, 8 training courses Project/Team Overview Document Tech Reg Document Internet Based Training Course BiofuelsNA●● Green & Sustainable Remediation ●●● Integrated DNAPL Site Strategy NA●● Environmental Molecular Diagnostics ●NA

23 2012 Products 2 documents, 3 training courses Project/Team Overview Document Tech Reg Document Internet Based Training Course Incremental Sampling Methodology NA● ● (x2) Remediation Risk Management ●NA

24 2013 Products - Planned 3 documents, 3 training courses Project/Team Tech Reg Document Internet Based Training Environmental Molecular Diagnostics●● Biochemical Reactors for Mining Impacted Water ●● Groundwater Statistics and Monitoring Compliance ●●

25 2014 Products - Planned 5 documents, 5 training courses Project/Team Tech Reg Document Internet Based Training Contaminated Sediments - Remediation●● Petroleum Vapor Intrusion●● DNAPLs Characterization●● Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response ●● Risk Assessment●●

26 ITRC Training Internet Based Training FREE Classroom Training See www.itrcweb.org for full schedulewww.itrcweb.org

27 ITRC Training, 45 Classes/Year

28

29 Course Overview Develop and apply an LNAPL Conceptual Site Model Understand and assess LNAPL subsurface behavior Develop and justify LNAPL remedial objectives including maximum extent practicable considerations Select appropriate LNAPL remedial technologies and measure progress Use ITRC’s science-based LNAPL guidance to efficiently move sites to closure LNAPLs: Science, Management, and Technology (Classroom Training) Oct. 2011 - Minneapolis, MN - 99 trained April 2012 - Boston, MA - 192 trained Fall 2012 – Novi, MI – 195 trained April 2013 – King of Prussia, PA June 2013 – Springfield, IL October 2013 – Garden Grove, CA

30 Vapor Intrusion (Classroom Training) Course Overview How to conduct site screening and investigations How to collect quality data and evaluate the results How to apply multiple lines of evidence to ensure quality decision making Understanding and implementing mitigation options 2,000 people trained in an intensive two-day course: “Vapor Intrusion Pathway - A Practical Guideline”

31 Select 2013 ITRC Courses  Attenuation Processes for Metals and Radionuclides  Biofuels  Contaminated Sediments – Bioavailability  Green and Sustainable Remediation  Incremental Sampling Methodology  Integrated DNAPL Site Strategy  LNAPLs  Mass Flux  Mining Waste  Remediation Risk Management  Risk Assessment  Solidification/Stabilization See www.itrcweb.org full schedule

32 State Engagement Network  ITRC is led by state agency representatives through its Board of Advisors  States become official members of ITRC by appointing a Point of Contact (POC). The POCs: Facilitate communication within the state Identify state priorities and emerging issues Coordinate state review of draft documents and dry run training Promote use of ITRC documents and training within the state  Each ITRC Team is led by 1-2 state agency Team Leaders and has a minimum of 5 state agency team members

33 ITRC Member 2005 2011 1995 2000 State Engagement Over 15 Years

34 State Engagement Update  In 2013, 48 states have confirmed Points of Contact (POCs)  POCs: Review ITRC documents Submit state environmental priorities to ITRC Respond to survey requests Indicate expected level of participation in ITRC proposed projects Participate in training dry runs Contribute to project technical and implementation sessions Submit ITRC success stories Recruit state Team Leaders and members for ITRC Teams Provide state concurrence on ITRC technical regulatory guidance documents

35 Benefits to States  Information and technology transfer – states make ITRC guidance their own  Free training and knowledge on how to use innovative environmental technologies/approaches  Access to peers and experts in other regulatory agencies  Shortened learning curve by obtaining advance knowledge of innovative technologies/approaches  Cost-effective involvement in demonstrations conducted in other jurisdictions  Sounding board for problem solving  Leadership and professional development

36 Federal Government Participation  ITRC partners with U.S. government agencies: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Department of Defense (DOD) Department of Energy (DOE)  Collectively EPA, DOD, and DOE: Have partnered with ITRC since 1995 Are members of the ITRC Board of Advisors Provide about 75% of ITRC’s yearly budget Provide peer review of ITRC documents and training courses Provide technical experts for ITRC teams Provide instructors for ITRC training courses Play an active role in future project selection Take ITRC training courses

37 Benefits to DOD and DOE  Encourages use of innovative environmental solutions  Increases reliance on cost-effective cleanup approaches  Reduces review and approval times for innovative approaches to environmental problems  Facilitates interactions between federal managers and state regulators  Increases consistency of regulatory requirements for similar cleanup problems in different states  Can help reduce uncertainties when preparing cleanup plans  Addresses DOD and DOE unique environmental needs (e.g. munitions, radionuclides, chlorinated solvents)

38 Benefits to EPA  Provides knowledge transfer to states for better environmental protection  Encourages use of innovative environmental solutions by states and others  Increases state reliance on cost-effective cleanup approaches  Facilitates idea sharing between federal managers and state regulators  Provides a mechanism for identifying and integrating regulatory performance expectations among states  Unique and cost-effective approach for demonstrating and deploying new technology/approaches

39 Private Sector Participation The private sector: Has partnered with ITRC since 1995 Is part of the ITRC Board of Advisors Provides about 20% of the ITRC’s yearly budget Provides peer review of ITRC documents and training courses Provides technical experts for ITRC teams Provides instructors for ITRC training courses Plays an active role in future project selection Takes ITRC training courses

40 Benefits to the Private Sector  Cutting-edge information on innovative environmental technologies and approaches  Opportunities to author national guidance documents and participate in training courses  Insight into the regulatory world  Access to multiple state and federal government entities  Opportunity for broader review of technology  National approach to demonstration and deployment of new technology  Mechanism to identify and integrate regulatory performance expectations among states

41 How Can You Get Benefit From ITRC?  Download and use ITRC documents (www.itrcweb.org)  Take training (internet or classroom)  Join an ITRC team and help write documents and develop training courses  Contact your State POC through your state environmental agency

42 What Have We Learned? ITRC is a model organization for knowledge transfer – our approach works There is interest in starting a Canadian version of ITRC An ITRC-like organization has been recommended to implement RCRA Vision 2020 goals

43 What Have We Learned?  ITRC is a model federal-state partnership Our consensus-based approach allows adversarial relationships to be replaced with collaboration Hundreds of success stories showing ITRC benefit to federal funders and states are available ITRC is frequently publicly referred to at federal- state meetings as a successful partnership

44 What Have We Learned?  Like many groups, we must do more with less  ITRC is using “lean” processes to make our work more efficient

45 Where Are We Going?  What type of new training technologies and approaches are possible?  What can we do to improve our website and make the most of social networking?  What emerging areas should we consider for projects within the cleanup area and outside of cleanup area? ITRC must look at itself through a “21st century lens”

46 Where Are We Going? Everyone in ITRC “does outreach” ITRC provides basic tools, but members are responsible for outreach in whatever capacity they can provide. Communication with commissioners/directors of state environmental agencies and federal funders is a high priority for ITRC leadership. Look for outreach opportunities—if you need support let ITRC know. An essential part of outreach is reporting back success stories so we can measure our impact.

47 What Do We Already Know? ITRC’s number one resource is its members, who dedicate their time and expertise to produce quality products.

48 Success Stories

49 National Guide for Vapor Intrusion  32 states report use of ITRC’s Vapor Intrusion guidance document in at least one of the following ways: As a basis to develop state guidance As a reference within state guidance As a tool to directly assist with site activities As a resource for state staff and consultants/contractors  ITRC has trained over 4,600 people from across the nation on vapor intrusion (42% are state regulators)! “Since participating in ITRC Maine will likely adopt the ITRC vapor intrusion tech-reg as the default.” – Fred Lavallee, ME – Fred Lavallee, ME

50

51 Innovative Solutions for Lead Contamination  Over $10 million saved at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas by using ITRC’s recommended innovative approaches to treating lead-contaminated soil Staff from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas used ITRC’s documents and training to develop an innovative treatment approach for soil contaminated by lead from small arms training. Lead contaminated soil was stabilized using a solid binder, which prevents the lead from migrating; the stabilized soil was then used as a landfill cover and in berms for active firing ranges. Significant cost savings was achieved through avoidance of transportation and disposal costs and elimination of the need to purchase new soil.

52 Innovation Cuts Costs  ITRC’s documents and training on passive diffusion bag samplers and direct push wells have ushered use of these innovative solutions that provide a substantial cost savings Passive diffusion bag samplers replace traditional sampling approaches with a cost reduction between 40-70%, depending on DQO’s. Direct push wells replace auger-drilled wells for a cost savings of about 50% depending on depth.

53 Breaking Down Regulatory Barriers  ITRC helps remove regulatory barriers to in situ bioremediation! RCRA 3020(b) required that contaminated groundwater be, “treated to substantially reduce hazardous constituents prior to injection” —a costly and time-consuming process. Using case histories, ITRC’s In Situ Bioremediation Team showed that amending contaminated groundwater with appropriate bioremediation substrates allowed it to be safely injected (contaminants were biodegraded). California and 14 other ITRC member states requested that US EPA clarify RCRA 3020(b). RCRA 3020(b) was reinterpreted by US EPA to allow for contaminated groundwater to be amended and injected, where it promotes clean up, while reducing the accumulation of wastewater.

54 Educating on Risk Assessment Software  ITRC’s Risk Team increases state regulator use of risk assessment software packages ITRC’s Risk Team partnered with US Army Corps of Engineers and the Army Environmental Command (AEC) to evaluate widely-used risk assessment software packages (ARAMS and SADA). In October 2008, ITRC held a training and technology transfer workshop with several hundred state regulators and others on the software packages. ITRC’s Risk Team work has greatly increased state regulators knowledge and use of risk assessment software packages.

55 Remedial Process Optimization  ITRC’s documents on Remedial Process Optimization (RPO) have saved time and money at numerous DOD facilities (average savings of $1 million per site).  DOE has conducted 8 RPOs since 2004 at Hanford and Paducah, saving 10’s of millions of dollars in remedial efficiency and effectiveness.  RPO teams included members from DoD Military Services and SERDP/ESTCP to further facilitate tech transfer from DoD to DOE.

56 Expedited Corrective Action Processes  ITRC documents on performance-based environmental management catalyzed cleanup at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Environmental restoration was stalled since 1996 due to disagreements between the Air Force, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and US EPA Region 6 regarding chlorinated solvent cleanup levels. Project managers from all three organizations used ITRC’s documents and training on exit strategies to co-develop and agree upon remedial objectives. The agreed upon remedial strategy was implemented in December 2007, with a stated time savings of 5 years.

57 Performance-Based Management  Many private and public sector organizations use ITRC’s Performance-Based Environmental Management documents to expedite the acceptance and implementation of cleanup plans For example: ProLogis, a distribution and warehousing corporation, and the state of California completed site cleanup of a 22 acre facility 4 months ahead of schedule by agreeing on a site conceptual model and cleanup plan. At Lackland Air Force Base, the state of Texas and base staff plan to close 70 waste sites three years ahead of the Air Force Remedy in Place 2012 deadlines.

58 Benefiting Restoration at DOE Sites  US Department of Energy (DOE) gets great value in ITRC documents and training: ITRC resources have aided in expedited environmental restoration of chlorinated solvents, metals, and radionuclides at DOE’s Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC, a complex site consisting of 515 waste sites and a 35 year cleanup plan. ITRC documents and training on Remedial Process Optimization have been used at DOE’s Hanford site in Washington and Paducah site in Kentucky to improve and streamline the cleanup. “ITRC participation is instrumental in facilitating regulatory acceptance of innovative technologies through direct experience, as well as networking with regulators” – Don Siron, Federal Facility Agreement Section, SC DHEC – Don Siron, Federal Facility Agreement Section, SC DHEC

59 Other Success Stories  Seneca Army Depot – New York Site manager used ITRC’s Permeable Reactive Barrier documents to develop the state remediation application and work plan. Process accelerated, simplified, and improved NY DEC’s ability to review and approve the application.  Former Rocky Mountain Arsenal – Colorado ITRC’s UXO documents and training courses were used by the state of CO to improve understanding of munitions response projects. Result was a better working relationship with Army representatives during the cleanup process.

60 US EPA Supports ITRC  US EPA supports ITRC, noting the following in an email to ITRC: “ITRC is a great venue for increasing mutual understanding and collaboration between states and EPA.” “ITRC is a way to communicate new and improved strategies to a large audience at once, bringing a large segment of the cleanup community along together.” “The result is a much faster adoption of new technologies and rapid spread of new knowledge and research findings.”

61 ITRC Represents

62 Conclusion Since 1995, we’ve been expediting quality regulatory decision making, while protecting human health and the environment. www.itrcweb.org


Download ppt "Advancing Environmental Solutions How ITRC Reduces Regulatory Barriers to Innovative Environmental Technologies."

Similar presentations


Ads by Google